TOWN BOARD TO VOTE ON MAYOR'S REINSTATEMENT

Last month, Parker was defeated in the Florida District 91 state house race and announced he would seek re-election as the town's mayor in the March election.

But his candidacy in the state race means he has to resign as the town's mayor, effective Monday. The following night, commissioners will decide at the town meeting whether to restore Parker as mayor, appoint a new one or let Vice Mayor John Yanni run the meetings for the remainder of the term.

"We still have a mayor until [Monday]," Deputy Town Clerk Alina Medina said. "After that, [Parker] can attend the regular meetings, but he'll no longer be part of the commission."

Yanni will conduct the meeting while commissioners decide who should sit on the dais, but Parker says he wants his job back.

"I'd love to finish out my term," he said, "but I'm not sure if they [commissioners] would accept me back."

Commissioner Ed Kennedy said he probably won't. He said renaming Parker as mayor wouldn't seem fair to the other two candidates vying for his office. One of them is Beverly Kennedy, his wife, though the couple announced their amicable separation in October. Also in the race is Susan Beatty, a legal assistant.

"I'm inclined to not reappoint him because I think it would give the appearance of cronyism," he said. "He's already considered the favorite [in the election.]"

Commissioner Marc Furth said he was leery of welcoming a new mayor since there are only three meetings left in the term.

"If we decide to take on some issues we've had in the past that [Parker] was privy to, I think whoever we nominate would have trouble taking on the issues," he said.

Furth said he wasn't sure if he wants to rename Parker as mayor, either.

"I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet," he said.

Daniella Aird can be reached at daird@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4550.